Asked by: Lord West of Spithead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risks of private maritime security companies becoming non-compliant through expiry of anti-piracy licences; and what impact this would have on international shipping.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
All Private Maritime Security Companies (PMSCs) operating in the former Indian Ocean High Risk Area (HRA) require approval under the Open General Trade Control Licence for Maritime Anti-Piracy (OGTCL MA-P). Once granted by the Export Control Joint Unit, this approval is open-ended for as long as the PMSC remains active in the maritime anti-piracy sector and abides by the terms of the OGTCL MA-P licence.
ECJU would inform His Majesty’s Revenue & Customs, which is responsible for the enforcement of the UK export licensing regime, if they became aware of any breaches of licence conditions.
Asked by: Lord West of Spithead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of vessels transiting the Indian Ocean with armed guards have UK-licensed firearms onboard.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) is responsible for licensing Private Maritime Security Companies (PMSCs) which provide armed security guards to protect vessels transiting the Indian Ocean High Risk Area from the threat of piracy. It also licences the vessel-based armouries which PMSCs use to store their weapons.
The licensing process for PMSCs and vessel-based armouries does not require information about where firearms originated, and therefore ECJU has no record of this information.
ECJU does not proactively monitor or record the number of vessels within the Indian Ocean.
Asked by: Lord West of Spithead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the UK is a net exporter of enriched uranium; and what discussions they have had with the industry regarding growing external markets.
Answered by Lord Offord of Garvel - Shadow Minister (Energy Security and Net Zero)
Urenco currently supplies around 30% of the global market with uranium enrichment services, a number which could rise in the coming years. Whether the UK is a net exporter at any given moment is subject to commercial agreements however the UK has the capability to supply a significant proportion of the global market.
HMG works closely with Urenco to explore opportunities globally and maintain their existing international contracts. HMG also works with Urenco to support investment into their UK facilities.
Asked by: Lord West of Spithead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the UK has a strategic need to maintain a steel industry; and if not, how it can ensure industrial resilience.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Lainston
The UK steel industry not only underpins a range of domestic industries, it forms the core of some local communities and economies. The Government remains committed to a UK steel industry and a decarbonised future, supporting local economic growth and our levelling-up agenda.